Sunday, 24 October 2010

Kara and her Russian insist: We're Strictly platonic ...for now

Smouldering: Kara Tointon has hinted that she will start dating her Russian dance partner Artem Chigvin tsev ¿ but only when this year's series finishes

Strictly Come Dancing is famous for generating a special chemistry between its stars. Only last year, boxing hero Joe Calzaghe and Russian Kristina Rihanoff fell for each on the dancefloor.

And now former EastEnders star Kara Tointon, 27, has hinted that she will start dating her Russian dance partner Artem Chigvin tsev – but only when this year's series finishes.

Artem, 28, has been spotted entering Kara's flat at night after a day's training for the show, but the actress insists their relationship has, so far at least, remained professional.

Kara, who split with her former EastEnders co-star Joe Swash in May, said: 'Artem and I have known each other for six weeks and I am very lucky to have him as a dance instructor.

'If you get on, it absolutely makes it easier. If you didn't, it would be a hard slog. 'We have arguments and I have walked out when he has shouted at me. But I have to be taught by him every day and I think until the show is over, it will just be professional.'

She added tellingly: 'If he asks me out afterwards, we'll see.' The couple then giggled and glanced at each other as Kara said it was 'too embarrassing' to comment further on suggestions their romance had started.

Kara said it was 'too embarrassing' to comment further on suggestions their romance had started

Asked if he fancied Kara, Artem replied swiftly: 'Who wouldn't?' A few weeks ago, she was pictured leaving her North London flat with him. Hours earlier, he had been stroking her shoulders tenderly as they took a break from practice.

In the interview, Artem disclosed that his partner's outfits would become more risqué, saying: 'We will go for more revealing stuff. People will expect it, so we should not disappoint them.'

Artem, 28, has been spotted entering Kara's flat at night after a day's training for the show

Last night, BBC viewers watched them do a sexy cha-cha routine. Kara, who left EastEnders last year, split from Joe Swash, who had played her brother in the soap, after constant rows, say friends.

They reportedly had a blazing bust-up backstage before appearing in Snow White at Bristol Hippodrome last year. Artem's last long-term love was Carrie Ann Inaba, 42, a judge on US show Dancing With The Stars.

Kara, who left EastEnders last year, split from Joe Swash, who had played her brother in the soap, after constant rows

He blamed the age gap for their split in 2008 after a two-and-a-half-year relationship. He said in an earlier interview: 'I am single. It is hard being in a relationship when you are a dancer as I have been touring a lot. But now I am in the UK, if something sparkles inside me, then who knows what can happen?'